About Journal

The Journal of Management and Development Studies (JMDS) is a peer-reviewed international academic journal published annually by the Nepal Administrative Staff College (NASC). Established in 1987 under its former title Administration and Management Review, the journal continues NASC’s long-standing commitment to advancing research, dialogue, and innovation in governance, management, and development. JMDS serves as an open forum for scholars, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from Nepal and around the world who engage with issues of public administration, public policy, federalism, governance, public management, and development studies. The journal welcomes original empirical research, theoretical analyses, critical reviews, and policy-oriented papers that contribute to both regional and global debates in these fields.

Submissions undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure scholarly integrity, originality, and methodological soundness. Accepted articles are published online through the NASC Journal Portal and subsequently included in the annual print volume.

JMDS aims to bridge academic and policy discourses, foster comparative perspectives, and support evidence-based governance and development practices. The journal is of particular value to academics, researchers, policymakers, government institutions, international organisations, and students seeking to understand and address contemporary administrative and developmental challenges in Nepal, Asia and beyond.

Focus and Scope

JMDS publishes original, high-quality research that advances theoretical understanding and practical knowledge in the broad fields of public administration, public policy, federalism, governance, public management, and development studies.

The journal provides an interdisciplinary platform for analysing contemporary administrative, management, and developmental challenges at local, national, regional, and global levels. While JMDS maintains a particular interest in research relevant to Asian contexts, it equally welcomes comparative and international perspectives that contribute to global scholarship in governance and development.

JMDS invites empirical studies, conceptual papers, critical reviews, and policy analyses that engage with current debates, introduce innovative frameworks, or offer actionable insights for improving public governance and management practices.

Peer Review Process

JMDS adheres to a double-blind peer review process designed to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity, objectivity, and scholarly rigour. All submitted manuscripts first undergo an initial screening by the Editorial Board to ensure compliance with the journal’s focus, scope, and formatting guidelines. Manuscripts that do not meet these basic requirements or fall outside the journal’s scope will be returned to the author with appropriate feedback.

Manuscripts deemed suitable for further consideration are then sent to at least two independent reviewers with recognised expertise in the relevant field. The peer review process is typically completed within six months. Reviewers may recommend one of the following decisions:

  • Accept: The manuscript meets the journal’s standards and requires no further revision.
  • Accept with minor revisions: The manuscript is acceptable for publication after minor editorial or content adjustments.
  • Revise and resubmit (major revisions): Substantial revisions are required to improve conceptual clarity, analytical rigour, or methodological soundness.
  • Reject: The manuscript does not meet the publication standards of the journal.

Authors are provided with detailed reviewer comments and are expected to revise their manuscripts accordingly. The revision period is three weeks for major revisions and two weeks for minor revisions. Revised manuscripts are re-evaluated by the Editorial Board and reviewers to ensure that all comments have been adequately addressed. Manuscripts that fail to meet revision requirements may be rejected at this stage.

Once a manuscript is formally accepted, it undergoes final proofreading and copyediting to ensure clarity, coherence, and linguistic quality. The final version is then published online via the NASC Journal Portal and in a hard copy volume once a year.

Plagiarism Policy

JMDS maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism in any form. All submitted manuscripts are subject to plagiarism screening as part of the initial editorial review process. Only manuscripts that successfully pass this screening will proceed to peer review. The journal defines plagiarism as the use of another author’s ideas, words, data, or figures without appropriate acknowledgement, whether intentional or unintentional. This includes direct copying, close paraphrasing, and the use of previously published material without citation.

To uphold academic integrity, all revised manuscripts are also rechecked for originality before final acceptance. Any detected instance of plagiarism, data fabrication, or unethical citation practices will result in immediate rejection of the manuscript. In cases of confirmed academic misconduct after publication, the article will be retracted in accordance with international publication ethics standards. JMDS expects all authors to ensure that their work is original, properly cited, and free from any form of plagiarism.

Artificial Intelligence Policy

JMDS recognises the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the research and writing process. AI tools, including large language models (LLMs) and generative AI, can assist authors in generating ideas, synthesising findings, analysing data, improving language, and structuring manuscripts. However, these tools cannot replace human creativity, critical thinking, or scholarly judgment.

Authors are not permitted to use AI tools to generate content for their manuscripts. AI may only be used to enhance or refine language. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, validity, and scholarly integrity of their work. If AI has been used, authors must disclose its role in the manuscript, preferably in the methods or acknowledgements section.

Authors must verify all factual content and citations after using AI tools to ensure accuracy and prevent fabrication or misinformation. Authors must avoid listing AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) as authors. Manuscripts will not be penalised for the appropriate, disclosed use of AI for language refinement. If undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI is identified, including plagiarism, fabricated content, or misattribution, the Editor reserves the right to reject the manuscript at any stage of the publication process.

Repository and Archiving Policy

JMDS is indexed and hosted on Nepal Journals Online (NepJOL) to ensure long-term digital preservation and global accessibility of all published articles. All accepted and published papers are freely available on the NepJOL platform at https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/jmds.

Declaration of Interest

JMDS requires all authors to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing the objectivity, integrity, or interpretation of their submitted work. Conflicts of interest may include financial, professional, or personal relationships with individuals or organisations that could inappropriately affect or be seen to affect the content or conclusions of the manuscript. Authors must include a declaration of interest statement at the time of submission. If no conflicts exist, authors should clearly state this in their manuscript using the following standard wording: The authors declare that there are no competing interests relevant to this article.

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest may result in rejection of the manuscript or retraction of the published article if conflicts are discovered post-publication. JMDS upholds the principles of transparency and accountability in scholarly work.

Funding Details

Authors are requested to provide complete information about all funding sources that supported the work reported in the manuscript. This ensures transparency and compliance with the requirements of funding and grant-awarding bodies. Please use the formats below when citing funding support:

For a single funding agency:

This work was supported by the [Funding Agency] under Grant [……………].

For multiple funding agencies:

This work was supported by the [Funding Agency #1] under Grant [……………..]; [Funding Agency #2] under Grant [……………]; and [Funding Agency #3] under Grant [………..].

Authors should ensure that all grant numbers, agency names, and other relevant details are accurate. If no external funding was received, please include a statement such as:

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Data Availability Statement

Authors are encouraged to provide clear and transparent information regarding the availability of data supporting the findings of their study. If a dataset is associated with the manuscript, please indicate where it can be accessed, including any relevant hyperlinks, DOIs, or other persistent identifiers. This promotes reproducibility, transparency, and integrity in research.

Example statements:

Publicly available data: The dataset supporting the findings of this study is publicly available at [repository name] at [URL or DOI].

Restricted access data: The data that support the findings of this study are available from [Author/Institution], but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for this study.

No data availability: No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Authors are encouraged to follow best practices in data sharing to ensure that data is stored in secure, reputable repositories whenever possible, and that access is consistent with ethical and legal requirements.

Article Processing Fee

JMDS does not charge any manuscript processing or publication fees. Authors can submit and publish their work without incurring any costs. All publication expenses are fully covered by NASC.

Information for Librarians

NASC encourages research librarians to include JMDS in their electronic journal collections to broaden access for academic and professional audiences. Hard copies of the journal are also available, and librarians are welcome to visit NASC to acquire them for their library collections.

Author Guidelines

Authors are requested to carefully read and follow these guidelines to ensure that manuscripts meet the journal’s standards for scholarly publication. Adherence to the format, style, and ethical requirements is essential.

Scope and Originality

Manuscripts must be entirely original and not previously published or under consideration by other journals.

Articles should address topics in public administration, public policy, federalism, governance, public management, and development.

Manuscript Structure

Articles should follow this order:

Title page

Abstract (maximum 150 words)

Keywords (4–6)

Main text, including Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion and Implications

Acknowledgments

Declaration of Interest

References

Formatting

  • Manuscripts must be written in clear, error-free British English, avoiding sexist or racist language.
  • Research articles: 6000–8000 words (excluding references and appendices)
  • Book reviews: 1,000–1,500 words
  • Font: 12-point Times New Roman, 1.5-line spacing, 1-inch margins
  • Use single quotation marks; quotations of 45 words or more should be indented.
  • Abbreviations must be spelt out on first use (e.g., Nepal Administrative Staff College (NASC))
  • Use ‘percent’ in the text; % may be used in tables, figures, and graphs
  • Dates should follow the format: 15 July 2015; decades should be referred to as “twentieth century,” “1990s.”

Figures, Tables, and Formulas

  • Figures should be of high quality and resolution. Preferred file formats are JPEG or Microsoft Word (DOC or DOCX), particularly for figures created in Word. Figures should be clearly labelled, include descriptive captions, and be referenced appropriately within the text.
  • Tables should provide new information rather than duplicating text content. Each table should be self-explanatory, allowing readers to interpret the data without referring to the text. Authors should provide editable files for tables (e.g., Word or Excel formats). Tables must include descriptive titles and, where applicable, sources of data.
  • Equations must be clearly formatted and editable if submitted within a Word document. All variables and symbols should be defined in the text. Numbering of equations is recommended for reference within the manuscript.

Technical Terms and Notes

Define technical terms in the text. Use endnotes for detailed explanations if necessary.

Authorship and Contributions

For multi-author manuscripts, specify each author’s contributions to conceptualization, research design, data analysis, literature review, discussion, conclusions, and implications.

Provide a short biographical note (≤100 words) for each author, including full name, email, academic background, current position, and affiliated organisation.

Ethical Considerations

Ensure all work adheres to ethical standards in research and publication. Proper attribution and avoidance of plagiarism are mandatory.

In-text Citation and References

References must be listed at the end of the manuscript.

All sources must be properly cited in-text and formatted according to APA 7th edition (https://apastyle.apa.org/).

A. Intext Citation

1. Author-date citation (single author)

Format: (Author, Year)

Example:

Research shows that public administration reforms improve service delivery (Gupta, 2022).

Gupta (2022) argues that public administration reforms improve service delivery.

2. Two authors

Format: (Author1 & Author2, Year)

Example:

Effective governance requires transparency and accountability (Gupta & Patel, 2019).

Gupta and Patel (2019) highlight the importance of transparency in governance.

3. Three or more authors

Format: (Author1 et al., Year)

Example:

Local governments play a critical role in policy implementation (Khan et al., 2021).

Khan et al. (2021) emphasise the role of local governments in implementing policies.

4. Group or corporate author

Format: (Organisation, Year)

Example:

According to the World Bank (2022), fiscal decentralisation enhances local governance.

Fiscal decentralisation enhances local governance (World Bank, 2022).

5. Citing a specific page or paragraph

Format: (Author, Year, p. X)

Example:

“Citizen participation is essential for effective local governance” (Gupta, 2018, p. 45).

6. Multiple works in the same parentheses

Format: (Author1, Year; Author2, Year)

Example:

Studies show that decentralisation improves efficiency (Gupta, 2017; Khan, 2020).

7. No author (use title)

Format: (“Title of Article,” Year)

Example:

Online platforms are transforming public service delivery (“E-Governance Trends,” 2021).

B. Reference

1. Book (single author)

Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book: Subtitle if any. Publisher.

Example:
Gupta, A. K. (2019). Trust in Public and Political Institutions in Nepal. Nepal Administrative Staff College.

2. Book (multiple authors)

Format:
Author1, A. A., & Author2, B. B. (Year). Title of book: Subtitle if any. Publisher.

Example:
Jackson, L. M., & Esses, V. M. (2019). The psychology of prejudice: From attitudes to social action. Sage Publications.

3. Edited Book

Format:
Editor, A. A. (Ed.). (Year). Title of book: Subtitle if any. Publisher.

Example:
Haque, A., & Salman, Y. (Eds.). (2024). Perspectives and practices of public administration in South Asia: Post-pandemic recovery and sustainable development agenda. Springer Cham

4. Book Chapter

Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Title of book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.
Example:
Rhodes, R. A. W. (2014). Public administration. In R. A. W. Rhodes & P. ‘t Hart (Eds.), The oxford handbook of political leadership (pp. 101-116). Oxford University Press.

5. Journal Article (print or online)

Format:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxx
Example:
Gupta, A. K. (2021). Local development planning in Nepal: Does it actually reflect citizen participation?. Journal of Management and Development Studies, 30(1), 1–13.  https://doi.org/10.3126/jmds.v30i1.36345

6. Web Page or Online Report

Format:
Author/Organisation. (Year). Title of web page/report. Site Name. URL

Example:
World Bank. (2021). Local governance and development: South Asia overview. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/local-governance

7. Government Publication

Format:
Government Agency. (Year). Title of publication: Subtitle if any (Report No. xxx). Publisher. URL (if online)

Example:
Government of Nepal. (2020). Local government operation act, 2017. Government of Nepal.

8. Newspaper or Magazine Article (online)

Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Title of Newspaper. URL

Example:
Gupta, A. K. (2020, July 22). Citizen charter in public service. Prasashan.  https://www.prasashan.com/2020/07/22/186538/

Copyright

By submitting a manuscript to the JMDS, authors agree that the copyright of the published work will be held by the Nepal Administrative Staff College (NASC). This arrangement allows NASC to:

  • Safeguard the integrity and proper attribution of the work.
  • Prevent unauthorised use, reproduction, or commercial exploitation.
  • Promote the dissemination of research while maintaining authors’ moral and academic rights.
  • Authors retain the right to use their work for academic, teaching, or research purposes, provided proper credit is given to the journal.

Manuscript Submission

Authors are invited to submit their manuscripts for consideration in the JMDS via email. Submissions should comply with the journal’s guidelines for formatting, style, and ethical standards.

  • Submission Email: journal@nasc.org.np
  • Authors are encouraged to include the following in their submission email:
  • A cover letter introducing the manuscript and its significance.
  • The manuscript file formatted according to the journal’s guidelines.
  • Any supplementary materials (figures, tables, appendices, datasets) as separate editable files.
  • A completed declaration of interest, if applicable.

All submissions will undergo initial editorial screening followed by a rigorous peer-review process to ensure quality, originality, and relevance to the field of public administration and management.

Contact Information

For inquiries, submissions, or correspondence regarding the JMDS, authors, reviewers, and readers may contact the journal editorial office using the information below:

Journal of Management and Development Studies

Publisher: Nepal Administrative Staff College

Email: journal@nasc.org.np

The editorial team is happy to assist with questions regarding manuscript submission, journal policies, publication ethics, and any other queries related to the journal.